NEW DELHI: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh suffered a heartbreaking personal loss on Friday morning as his father, Khanchand Singh, passed away at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida after battling advanced-stage liver cancer. He was on ventilator support for the past few days, hospital officials confirmed.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Dr Sunil Kumar, spokesperson of the hospital, said Khanchand Singh’s condition had deteriorated significantly after being admitted on February 21. “He was placed on ventilator support and breathed his last early this morning,” Kumar stated. Family sources also confirmed the news, saying he had been fighting liver cancer for some time.Rinku, who is part of India’s T20 World Cup squad, had briefly returned home earlier in the tournament after his father’s health worsened following India’s Super 8 fixture against South Africa. Despite the emotional turmoil, the 28-year-old rejoined the squad in Chennai ahead of the Zimbabwe clash on February 26. Though he did not feature in the playing XI, he was present with the team during India’s convincing win.Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed his condolences in a heartfelt post on X. “Pained to learn about the demise of Shri Khanchand Singh Ji, father of Rinku Singh. This must be an especially difficult time for Rinku and his family… May Waheguru grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength and courage to the bereaved family,” he wrote.Rinku’s former coach, Masood Amini, also confirmed the passing, noting that Khanchand Singh had been on ventilator support for the last three to four days.A father’s sacrifice behind Rinku’s riseA resident of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, Rinku has often spoken about his father’s sacrifices. Khanchand Singh worked in gas cylinder distribution and supported his son’s cricketing ambitions despite financial hardships. In a touching moment last year, he attended Rinku’s engagement ceremony in Lucknow, even while battling illness. The cricketer is engaged to Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj.The last rites will be performed in Aligarh later in the day, with Rinku expected to attend. As India prepare for their upcoming clash against West Indies, cricket takes a backseat for the young batter, who now mourns the loss of the man he credits as his biggest pillar of strength.
